Trio's bloghttp://www.gsanetwork.org/blog/58
enCESCaL 2012: Educating our Educators!http://www.gsanetwork.org/news/blog/cescal-2012-educating-our-educators/02/27/12
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img width="300" vspace="5" align="right" hspace="5" height="225" src="/files/stock/CESCal4_0.jpg" alt="GSA Network at CESCaL" />Not many high school students even get to talk to teachers about queer activism, so I felt incredibly lucky earlier this month to lead two trainings at the third annual <a href="http://cescal.org/" target="_blank">Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL)</a> conference in San Diego. This national educator conference on LGBTQI youth has become one of the safe schools events of the year, drawing 500 educators, students, parents, government representatives, and top people from national organizations.</p>
<p>My fellow GSA Network board member/youth trainer Keanan Gottlieb and I joined up with youth from the <a href="http://www.glsen.org" target="_blank">Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)</a> jump start team for a panel aimed at GSA advisors and adults. It was wonderful to see new faces and build even stronger coalitions within the San Diego community. Collaborating with youth from GLSEN was an amazing experience, and one I hope GSA Network get<img width="250" vspace="5" align="left" hspace="5" height="188" src="/files/stock/CESCal7.JPG" alt="CESCaL training" />s to repeat! The most inspiring moment, though, came from the audience, when Keanan’s parents interjected after someone asked about parents’ reactions to the panelists’ activist work. The room exploded with applause for Keanan’s parents, and the experience made me hope youth have a similar feeling of love and acceptance when I become a parent myself. The panel was a success and many of the adults approached the GSA Network table not only to thank, but also to congratulate us for all of our work.</p>
<p>Our second training on days of action and campaigns was also a success and personally rewarding, since members from my GSA came and cheered me on. We even got to meet Daniel Joseph Baker from America’s Got Talent, who shared his own experiences with b<img width="250" vspace="5" align="right" hspace="5" height="188" src="/files/stock/CESCal16.JPG" alt="Trio training" />ullying and sang a rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.” </p>
<p>I have attended the CESCaL conference every year since it first started three years ago and this year was, by far, the most empowering of all years. I highly recommend the CESCaL conference to any and all San Diego (or national!) safe schools activists, and hope to see lots of GSA youth there next year!</p>
<p><em>For more about this year's CESCaL conference, check out the great <a href="http://www.sdgln.com/news/2012/02/25/san-diego-national-educator-conference-plight-lgbtqia-students-has-changed-lives-for" target="_blank">conference wrap-up from the San Diego Gay &amp; Lesbian News</a>.</em></p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:35:08 +0000Trio707 at http://www.gsanetwork.orgGet To Know Your (New!) Board Members: Trio Harrishttp://www.gsanetwork.org/news/blog/get-know-your-new-board-members-trio-harris/08/05/11
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<p>Hello! My name is Trio Harris and I am a senior at Carlsbad High School, but I’m introducing myself to you as one of the newest members on the Gay-Straight Alliance Network Board of Directors! As a grassroots youth leadership organization, GSA Network always has a mix of adults and youth activists on its Board. I live for activism, so I was ecstatic to find out my application to the Board had been accepted.</p>
<p>I met many of my fellow Board members at the 2011 <img width="273" vspace="2" hspace="2" height="160" align="right" alt="" src="/files/aboutus/215808_205567592794837_100000247932637_745989_2810887_n.jpg" />GAYLA/ Queer Youth Advocacy Day. These included veteran members Isaiah Baiseri, G! Pe Benito and Benji Delgadillo, as well as the other new Board members: Indie Landrum, Keanan Gottlieb, Emily Coffin, and Sam Alavi. GAYLA inspired me to get more involved in GSA Network, as I was able to make new friends from all over California. One of my favorite parts about GAYLA was how I felt right at home with my peers. Everyone got along so well and a sense of community was built in the first day. GAYLA introduced me to brave people who opened my eyes and challenged me to think outside of the box. I would really advise any and all activists to apply for GAYLA! Having the ability to talk to Senators and Assemblymembers from my district made me feel that my voice mattered. </p>
<p>Now that I’m joining the Board of Directors for GSA Network, I look forward to meeting new people who, like myself, want to make schools safer for every student by fighting homophobia and transphobia. I am excited to build new relationships with people who live outside of my community so that I have knowledge and connections when I venture out in the world. As a Board Member, I’ll be able to participate in key organizational decisions, plan the organization’s strategy, and help make sure that youth remain at the heart of everything GSA Network does. Experiences like GAYLA were the driving force behind my decision to apply for the GSA Network Board of Directors and, now that I’m on the Board, I can’t wait to help bring that experience to other youth!<br /><strong><br />
Trio Harris is a senior at Carlsbad High School and is his school’s current GSA president. He recently joined the GSA Network Board of Directors.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Trio is pictured above at GAYLA at the office of Assemblymember Toni Atkins. Clockwise from the left is Melinda Miceli, Trio Harris, GSA Network Staff Member Hilary Burdge, Assemblymember Toni Atkins, Transgender Law Center's Kristina Wertz, GSA Network Board Member Indie Landrum, Justine Wilm and GSA Network Board Member Keanan Gottlieb.</strong></p>
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</div></div></div>Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:48:29 +0000Trio591 at http://www.gsanetwork.org